New York Political Leaders Fail on Campaign Reform

March 31, 2014

Today, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State legislature failed to include a comprehensive system of public campaign finance reform in the budget. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law released the following statement.

“This was the best chance in a generation to deal with Albany’s corrupt culture. New York’s political leaders failed,” said Lawrence Norden, deputy director of the Center’s Democracy Program. “We are especially disappointed with the governor’s decision to shut down the Moreland Commission, which so thoroughly documented the corrosive impact of big money over New York’s policy decisions. The Commission recommended comprehensive campaign finance reform, including the adoption of a statewide small donor matching system. Unless the governor and legislature find a way to revive this promise in the coming weeks, all New Yorkers will live with the consequences of this failure.”